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Extension office plans two Marcellus Shale seminars

December 30, 2013

Penn State Cooperative Extension has scheduled two natural gas workshops for landowners this month in Washington.

“Shale Gas Update and Landowner Impacts; Leasing, Re-Leasing, and Pipeline Development” will be presented from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 9, in the first-floor public meeting room of the Washington County Courthouse Square office building, 100 West Beau St.

Natural gas drillers have produced fuel from “conventional” gas reservoirs for more than 150 years. New shale gas production techniques have opened much wider areas for exploration, including the Marcellus, Utica and Upper Devonian shale formations.

Many landowners in Southwestern Pennsylvania may be approached for the first time about leasing and re-leasing. This workshop is intended to help landowners have a better understanding of what is currently occurring regarding leasing and natural gas development.

Presenters include Dan Brockett, a member of the Penn State Marcellus Education Team, and local attorney Kris Vanderman. An update will be provided on shale gas trends and production in the region and state, leasing information and leasing trends. A question-and-answer period will follow the discussion.

Penn State Extension also will hold a seminar, “Shale Mineral Management for the Landowner,” from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 21, at the same location.

This seminar is aimed at landowners who are receiving royalty checks but who do not fully understand how current trends and production figures mesh with royalty payments. Brockett and Steven Karabin, president of Rhino Group LLC, will be the presenters.

Mineral management resources available to landowners to assist in reviewing their lease, royalty payments and calculations considered in the determination of payment will be discussed. Experts will discuss royalty pay stubs, a topic of high interest for many landowners.